The former employee spent the money on her home mortgage, food, jewelry, clothing and iTunes songs, Wilson said. She even invested some of that money in a local gym, according to the audit.

Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson

Unlike many other state audits involving theft of taxpayer money, in which authorities alreadyhave indicted the accused government employee, officials haven’t arrested the employee yet, and they haven’t publicly identified her.

“Due to the fact that federal money is involved, this matter has been referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Knoxville,” said Cortney Dugger, spokesman for Tennessee Ninth Judicial District, in a statement to Tennessee Watchdog.

Dugger couldn’t say whether local or federal officials, or both, would prosecute the case, assuming an arrest is made.

According to the audit, the former school district employee, who assisted the school district’s federal projects administrator, diverted the half-million dollars from the district and two professional organizations — the Tennessee Attendance Supervisors Steering Committee and the East Tennessee Attendance Supervisors Association — where she served as treasurer .

The audit also said the school district reimbursed her for 70 work-related trips that she didn’t actually take.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation, which covered almost six years, comptroller spokesman Blake Fontenay said in a news release.

The audit also said the school district and the two professional organizations didn’t properly oversee how the employee spent taxpayer money.

Wilson’s audits have turned up other financial irregularities across the state.